Locations
Fish species in Missouri
237 species have two or more US observation records in Missouri. Explore their habitats, families, and local records.
237 species have two or more US observation records in Missouri. ITIS calls 116 of them native to the United States, 113 native to part of the country and introduced elsewhere, and 8 introduced.
- Species
- 237
- Freshwater
- 230
- Saltwater
- 12
- Survey list
- 156
0
1state
Two counts, two questions. 237 is the number of species observed in Missouri and filed with GBIF, which includes lakes, the coast, and museum records. 156 is the number the USGS stream survey caught, which samples flowing fresh water only. Neither is the other, so the site never adds them.
The statute
The official state fish of Missouri
A state fish is a statute, not a survey. It says which fish the legislature chose, not which fish is most common. The list above links each row to the state's own record.
Most recorded
The fish of Missouri
The species with the most observation records in the state. It is the closest the open data comes to naming the fish people meet.
Orangethroat Darter2,052 records
Etheostoma spectabilePercidaeNativeFresh
Rainbow Darter1,824 records
Etheostoma caeruleumPercidaeNative and introducedFresh
Longear Sunfish1,539 records
Lepomis megalotisCentrarchidaeNative and introducedFresh
Green Sunfish1,530 records
Lepomis cyanellusCentrarchidaeNative and introducedFresh
Bluegill1,460 records
Lepomis macrochirusCentrarchidaeNative and introducedFresh
Bluntnose Minnow1,270 records
Pimephales notatusLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Central Stoneroller1,231 records
Campostoma anomalumLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Bleeding Shiner1,132 records
Luxilus zonatusLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Blackspotted Topminnow980 records
Fundulus olivaceusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Fantail Darter973 records
Etheostoma flabellarePercidaeNativeFresh
Creek Chub944 records
Semotilus atromaculatusLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Red Shiner927 records
Cyprinella lutrensisLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Groups
Types of fish in Missouri
Species
All 237 species, A–Z
A
B
- Banded Darter Etheostoma zonale
- Banded Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma zonatum
- Banded Sculpin Cottus carolinae
- Bantam Sunfish Lepomis symmetricus
- Bigeye Chub Hybopsis amblops
- Bigeye Shiner Notropis boops
- Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
- Bigmouth Buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus
- Bigmouth Shiner Notropis dorsalis
- Black Buffalo Ictiobus niger
- Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus
- Black River Madtom Noturus maydeni
- Blackbanded Darter Percina nigrofasciata
- Blacknose Shiner Notropis heterolepis
- Blackside Darter Percina maculata
- Blackspotted Topminnow Fundulus olivaceus
- Blackstripe Topminnow Fundulus notatus
- Blacktail Shiner Cyprinella venusta
- Bleeding Shiner Luxilus zonatus
- Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus
- Blue Sucker Cycleptus elongatus
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
- Bluestripe Darter Percina cymatotaenia
- Bluntface Shiner Cyprinella camura
- Bluntnose Minnow Pimephales notatus
- Bowfin Amia calva
- Brassy Minnow Hybognathus hankinsoni
- Brindled Madtom Noturus miurus
- Brook Darter Etheostoma burri
- Brook Silverside Labidesthes sicculus
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus
- Brown Trout Salmo trutta
- Bullhead Minnow Pimephales vigilax
C
- Cardinal Shiner Luxilus cardinalis
- Carmine Shiner Notropis percobromus
- Central Greenside Darter Etheostoma pholidotum
- Central Mudminnow Umbra limi
- Central Stoneroller Campostoma anomalum
- Chain Pickerel Esox niger
- Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus
- Channel Darter Percina copelandi
- Channel Shiner Notropis wickliffi
- Checkered Madtom Noturus flavater
- Chestnut Lamprey Ichthyomyzon castaneus
- Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
- Common Shiner Luxilus cornutus
- Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus
- Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon oblongus
- Crystal Darter Crystallaria asprella
- Current Darter Etheostoma uniporum
- Current Saddled Darter Etheostoma erizonum
- Cypress Darter Etheostoma proeliare
- Cypress Minnow Hybognathus hayi
D
E
F
G
- Ghost Shiner Notropis buchanani
- Gilt Darter Percina evides
- Golden Redhorse Moxostoma erythrurum
- Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas
- Golden Topminnow Fundulus chrysotus
- Goldeye Hiodon alosoides
- Goldfish Carassius auratus
- Goldstripe Darter Etheostoma parvipinne
- Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella
- Grass Pickerel Esox americanus
- Gravel Chub Erimystax x-punctatus
- Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
- Greenside Darter Etheostoma blennioides
H
I
J
L
- Lake Chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta
- Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
- Largescale Stoneroller Campostoma oligolepis
- Least Brook Lamprey Lampetra aepyptera
- Least Darter Etheostoma microperca
- Logperch Percina caprodes
- Longear Sunfish Lepomis megalotis
- Longnose Darter Percina nasuta
- Longnose Gar Lepisosteus osseus
M
- Margined Madtom Noturus insignis
- Meramec Saddled Darter Etheostoma erythrozonum
- Mimic Shiner Notropis volucellus
- Mississippi Silvery Minnow Hybognathus nuchalis
- Missouri Saddled Darter Etheostoma tetrazonum
- Mooneye Hiodon tergisus
- Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis
- Mottled Sculpin Cottus bairdii
- Mountain Madtom Noturus eleutherus
- Mud Darter Etheostoma asprigene
- Muskellunge Esox masquinongy
N
O
- Orangespotted Sunfish Lepomis humilis
- Orangethroat Darter Etheostoma spectabile
- Ozark Bass Ambloplites constellatus
- Ozark Cavefish Amblyopsis rosae
- Ozark Chub Erimystax harryi
- Ozark Logperch Percina fulvitaenia
- Ozark Madtom Noturus albater
- Ozark Minnow Notropis nubilus
- Ozark Sculpin Cottus hypselurus
- Ozark Shiner Notropis ozarcanus
P
- Pallid Shiner Hybopsis amnis
- Pallid Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus
- Pealip Redhorse Moxostoma pisolabrum
- Pirate Perch Aphredoderus sayanus
- Plains Darter Etheostoma pulchellum
- Plains Killifish Fundulus zebrinus
- Plains Minnow Hybognathus placitus
- Plains Topminnow Fundulus sciadicus
- Plateau Darter Etheostoma squamosum
- Popeye Shiner Notropis ariommus
- Pugnose Minnow Opsopoeodus emiliae
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
Q
R
- Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum
- Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax
- Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis
- Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus
- Redfin Darter Etheostoma whipplei
- Redfin Shiner Lythrurus umbratilis
- Redspot Chub Nocomis asper
- Redspotted Sunfish Lepomis miniatus
- Ribbon Shiner Lythrurus fumeus
- Rio Grande Longear Sunfish Lepomis aquilensis
- River Carpsucker Carpiodes carpio
- River Chub Nocomis micropogon
- River Darter Percina shumardi
- River Redhorse Moxostoma carinatum
- River Shiner Notropis blennius
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris
- Rosyface Shiner Notropis rubellus
S
- Sabine Shiner Notropis sabinae
- Saddleback Darter Percina vigil
- Sand Shiner Notropis stramineus
- Sauger Sander canadensis
- Scaly Sand Darter Ammocrypta vivax
- Shadow Bass Ambloplites ariommus
- Shoal Chub Macrhybopsis hyostoma
- Shorthead Redhorse Moxostoma macrolepidotum
- Shortnose Gar Lepisosteus platostomus
- Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus
- Sicklefin Chub Macrhybopsis meeki
- Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
- Silver Chub Macrhybopsis storeriana
- Silver Lamprey Ichthyomyzon unicuspis
- Silver Redhorse Moxostoma anisurum
- Silverband Shiner Notropis shumardi
- Silverjaw Minnow Ericymba buccata
- Skipjack Shad Alosa chrysochloris
- Slender Madtom Noturus exilis
- Slenderhead Darter Percina phoxocephala
- Slim Minnow Pimephales tenellus
- Slough Darter Etheostoma gracile
- Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
- Smallmouth Buffalo Ictiobus bubalus
- Southern Brook Lamprey Ichthyomyzon gagei
- Southern Cavefish Typhlichthys subterraneus
- Southern Redbelly Dace Chrosomus erythrogaster
- Speckled Chub Macrhybopsis aestivalis
- Speckled Darter Etheostoma stigmaeum
- Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera
- Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius
- Spotted Bass Micropterus punctulatus
- Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus
- Spotted Sucker Minytrema melanops
- Spotted Sunfish Lepomis punctatus
- Spring Cavefish Forbesichthys agassizii
- Stargazing Darter Percina uranidea
- Steelcolor Shiner Cyprinella whipplei
- Stippled Darter Etheostoma punctulatum
- Stonecat Noturus flavus
- Streamline Chub Erimystax dissimilis
- Striped Bass Morone saxatilis
- Striped Shiner Luxilus chrysocephalus
- Sturgeon Chub Macrhybopsis gelida
- Suckermouth Minnow Phenacobius mirabilis
- Sunburst Darter Etheostoma mihileze
T
- Tadpole Madtom Noturus gyrinus
- Taillight Shiner Notropis maculatus
- Telescope Shiner Notropis telescopus
- Tench Tinca tinca
- Tessellated Darter Etheostoma olmstedi
- Texas Logperch Percina carbonaria
- Texas Shiner Notropis amabilis
- Threadfin Shad Dorosoma petenense
- Topeka Shiner Notropis topeka
- Trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus
W
- Walleye Sander vitreus
- Warmouth Lepomis gulosus
- Wedgespot Shiner Notropis greenei
- Weed Shiner Notropis texanus
- Western Creek Chubsucker Erimyzon claviformis
- Western Sand Darter Ammocrypta clara
- Western Silvery Minnow Hybognathus argyritis
- White Bass Morone chrysops
- White Crappie Pomoxis annularis
- White Perch Morone americana
- White Sucker Catostomus commersonii
- Whitetail Shiner Cyprinella galactura
Y
One record only
30 more with a single record
One observation can be a stray, an aquarium release, or a mis-keyed locality, so these are kept out of the count above and listed here instead. The first 30 are shown.
Alabama Hog Sucker6 states
Hypentelium etowanumCatostomidaeNative and introducedFresh
Alligator Gar12 states
Atractosteus spatulaLepisosteidaeNativeFreshBrackish
Asian Swamp Eel7 states
Monopterus albusSynbranchidaeIntroducedFreshSaltBrackish
Atlantic Salmon26 states
Salmo salarSalmonidaeNative and introducedFreshSaltBrackish
Banded Killifish31 states
Fundulus diaphanusFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Black Sculpin4 states
Cottus baileyiCottidaeNativeFresh
Blackchin Shiner13 states
Notropis heterodonLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Blue River Orangebelly Darter7 states
Etheostoma cyanorumPercidaeNative
Bluespotted Sunfish14 states
Enneacanthus gloriosusCentrarchidaeNative and introducedFresh
Bridle Shiner22 states
Notropis bifrenatusLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Cherryfin Shiner5 states
Lythrurus roseipinnisLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Chesapeake Fantail Darter24 states
Etheostoma barrattiPercidaeNativeFresh
Fallfish22 states
Semotilus corporalisLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Fat Sleeper12 states
Dormitator maculatusEleotridaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Finescale Dace12 states
Chrosomus neogaeusLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Iowa Darter19 states
Etheostoma exilePercidaeNative and introducedFresh
Longnose Dace41 states
Rhinichthys cataractaeLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Marsh Killifish14 states
Fundulus confluentusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Monopterus javanensis7 states
SynbranchidaeIntroducedFreshSaltBrackish
Mountain Shiner5 states
Lythrurus lirusLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Northern Pearl Dace7 states
Margariscus nachtriebiLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Northern Pike39 states
Esox luciusEsocidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Orangebelly Darter7 states
Etheostoma radiosumPercidaeNativeFresh
Redbreast Sunfish29 states
Lepomis auritusCentrarchidaeNative and introducedFresh
Scarlet Shiner13 states
Lythrurus fasciolarisLeuciscidaeNative and introducedFresh
Silver Shiner17 states
Notropis photogenisLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
Smallmouth Redhorse13 states
Moxostoma brevicepsCatostomidaeNativeFresh
Spotted Darter17 states
Nothonotus maculatusPercidaeNativeFresh
Swamp Darter24 states
Etheostoma fusiformePercidaeNative and introducedFresh
Western Blacknose Dace25 states
Rhinichthys obtususLeuciscidaeNativeFresh
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